On Monday 29 November 2004 8:22 pm, Ricky Bruce wrote:
the missus, who works for BT assures me that any BT customers can call 0800800150 and get premium rate number call baring for free, if you want internartional and premium rate call baring itll cost you �5.45 a quarter inc. VAT.
I can't see why they have to charge for it, particularly an ongoing quarterly rate. This sort of facility should be available either free or for a minimal one time set up fee. It requires no ongoing maintenance on the part of BT so why should they charge each billing period.
Also blanket barring for international or premium rate numbers does not completely solve the problem. One time you may need to call a premium rate number (say for support to a dodgy ISP) or perhaps a relative is travelling abroad and urgently needs your help "can you call me back, I'm low on change" yeh no problem....ooops
What I believe should happen is a chargeback type system where a customer complaint is followed up by the billing authority. It works for credit cards even across national borders why not for telephone calls ?
Anybody not wanting to play by those rules has their premium rate number barred as an outgoing call from the UK. In fact come to think of it I can't think of a legitimate reason to allow calls that terminate at a premium rate number overseas at all.